Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
A Dance with Dragons is Book Five in George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy cycle that began with A Game of Thrones. Martin excels at bringing the world of Westeros to life, he mixes practical descriptions of what life would be like in this world that seems to be stuck, for all intents and purposes, in the medieval era with the magic and mystery of prophecy.
In Book Five; Winter is upon us, and things are looking very bleak for all the Noble Houses of Westeros. In this world seasons can apparently stretch for decades. The War of the Five Kings ravaged much of the countryside during the Autumn.
According to Martin's own website Book Four and Book Five run concurrently in the timeline, where Book Four focuses on the the events in King's Landing, The Fingers, the Iron Islands and the events in Essos involving the young Targeryan Queen. (Rightful Heir to the Seven Kingdoms?) Book Five focuses on Jon Snow, the Wall, King Stannis Baratheon, his Red priestess, and much to my relief, the continued adventures of one Tyrion Lannister.
I'm going to stop here and let everyone know: The Imp is easily my favorite surviving character at this point in the series. Why? He's the most honest, to be frank. He's wily, shrewd and absolutely cutthroat when needs be. People view him as an obscene little monstrosity, and Tyrion does his best to live up to that perception.
A Dance with Dragons is a great read, well constructed and extremely entertaining. Although Martin, as an author, stays to form. (My Kindle has a crack in it, from where I threw it to the floor after reading of Robb and Catelyn Stark's shocking murders at the Twins during what became known as the Red Wedding.) Another major character, meets an apparent untimely demise at the
When Martin writes it seems that no one is safe. He continues that tradition here. Although one character most readers would have thought dead for the past two to three books in this series does make a surprising comeback, and starts on his road to redemption. The events in Mereen with the Dragon Queen are both revealing and puzzling and Young Brandon Stark is well on his way to mastering his own destiny. This outing shows Bran, Jojen and Meera journeying deep into the wilds beyond the Wall. Bran finishing his portion of this book learning from the last greenseer and restaking his claim as the hardest Stark to kill. Then Young Aegon Targaryen, the son of slain Prince Rhaegar, long thought dead, reveals himself and makes way for Westeros with Jon Connington, former Hand to Mad King Aerys, and a sellsword army at his back.
Oh...and Dany finally tames her dragon....
Personally, I can't wait for Book Six.
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